Change of ownership

**Moobox** · 05-07-2012, 13:52

Hello everyone.
Hopefully someone can tell me how to go about this. My old man is terminally ill and not in any great shape to enter into any discussion on this or any other matter actually. So he owns a few firearms. I'm not even sure what all but I know that there is a hunting rifle, a pump action shotgun and a Smith & Wesson .38 Special in there. An old 9MM as well I think and I dont know what else.

Now, it strikes me that maybe it's not such a good idea for firearms to lie in a deceased estate. But how does one get this little lot into someone else' name? At this stage I would think that it should go into the old girl's name but I sure as blazes cant see a 85 year old lady getting A-OK for a 12-bore competency test hey. So, that puts me in line and I really dont know what the drill is. I guess that I can wander down to the police station but if there are any pointers you guys can give I'd be most grateful.

Then again, you might have some other ideas. Another thought has been to sell the firearms and the old girl gets the cash - it's just that noone is sure how long we've got to go through the process and I guess the quickest route is the best at this time.

Cheers - Ed

**Psychosis** · 05-07-2012, 15:12

You can transfer ownership, but I suspect you need your old man to sign for, consent to this.

Perhaps consider transferring the FA's to a Gunshop\Dealers stock, and get them off your old man's name in the interim. The dealer can help you with this process. Go to a dealer that you can trust

1) You do the required competency's (for all of them)... and apply for licenses. You may need to work towards Dedicated status to get all of them. May be a lengthy process... and have the dealer hold on to them for you while the licenses go through.

2) have the gunshop\dealer sell them on your behalf.

I would personally go for the first one, but my circumstances allow for it.

Your choice.

**afzals1** · 05-07-2012, 15:59

If you really want to sell them, sell them here, lots of guys who will give them loving homes!

**gizmo16** · 05-07-2012, 16:15

Sorry to hear about your dad.

You could store the firearms at a gun shop and sell them off (not a lengthy process and pretty easy). You can of course choose to license any of the firearms you want to keep.. might be a nice thing to do for sentimental reasons and of course, personal protection, should you not have any yourself. The purchaser simply needs a letter from the current owner stating that he is selling the firearm to the new applicant (typed is fine just with signature) with ID photos. There may be more to it but I think that is about it.

**Moobox** · 07-07-2012, 02:21

Well,I think I left it pretty long unattended but things got out of hand quite quickly. I dont know if the old man is going to be in any position to sign anything actually. I found a pdf on SAPS site for transfer of ownership and it's got the current owner's signature required on it. I'm thinking maybe I'll go down to the police station and ask there but not sure if I'll get too much info I can use.

What happens to firearms when someone dies? I mean the old man's will reckons the old girl gets everything. Does that mean that she can then apply for a license or can she go ahead and transfer ownership? I'm finding forms and so forth but I really want to preempt any of the issues I just know will happen once the old man dies.
Cheers -Ed

**Psychosis** · 07-07-2012, 09:54

Sorry about your dad. Not good.

My understanding, is that the executor of the estate will have legal right to sign for any FA's in the event of FA's left in a deceased estate.